Pioneers earn dual win at UW-Eau Claire

EAU CLAIRE, Wis. – The University of Wisconsin-Platteville wrestling team earned a 20-15 dual victory over the UW-Eau Claire Blugolds Friday night in the McPhee Center.  The Pioneers improve to 2-2 overall and 1-2 in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference while the Blugolds drop to 0-4.

Freshman Issac Wiegel started things off with a win at 125-pounds by 6-1 decision over UW-Eau Claire's Jack Marley.  Sophomore Chase Katzenmeyer then went on to win by a 7-3 decision over Hunter Pierce at 141-pounds and was followed by sophomore Tony Bivens' 6-2 victory over Brady Bastyr at 157-pounds.

Going into the 184-pounds match, the Pioneers trailed 9-15, but senior Grant Wedepohl's win by technical fall (17-0) over Grant Balconi narrowed the gap to 13-15.  Senior Jon Goetz defeated Jordan Blanchard by a 5-3 decision at 197-pounds and moved the Pioneers into the lead, 16-15. With one more match remaining, sophomore Lucius Rinehart clinched the victory and defeated Tyler Burt by 8-1 decision at 285-pounds.

The Pioneers will take a break and return to action January 5 when they travel to the University of Dubuque.